THE British admiral in charge of anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden has warned that recent successes may be quickly reversed if cash-strapped EU nations withdraw military support.

Figures show 34 ships were attacked by pirates in the past 12 months and five seized. This is down on 2010 when pirates targeted 174 and took 47.

The success is attributed to armed guards on ships, anti-boarding technology and a tactic of “disruption operations” where EU ships and helicopters attack bases in Somalia, stopping pirates reaching international waters.

The fear is that EU states, including Britain, will use the successes to cut back on the number of ships targeting pirates.

Rear Admiral Duncan Potts said: “If member states don’t give us the ships the conditions still exist for the pirates’ business model to re-emerge.”